The Donda

Volt stared at the Donda, a small, metallic, spinning shape hovering above a diamond-shaped base, both plated in that familiar Orokin gold. Beyond the Donda was the view from the Orbiter’s window, the rings of Saturn drifting by, minding their own business.

Everything was quiet. All that could be heard was the occasional beep of machinery, the ship humming away to itself. Volt adjusted the Donda, putting it neatly right by the viewing pane. It didn’t seem right to have it sitting with all his other ship decorations. He felt it needed its own spot.

Something interrupted the peace and quiet. A beep not related to the other sounds of the ship. An incoming text message coming from his new friend.

“Volt! Volt! Volt!”

Volt ignored it at first. He wanted to be left alone. But there was no option to turn his communications off, Ordis insisted that they always be on, just in case. At least Ordis was always willing to keep himself busy whenever Volt or his Operator wanted some quiet time.

“Volt!”

Unlike his other friend Frost, Rhino was a lot louder and bouncier. It showed, even through text messages.

“Volt! Pick up!”

There was not much Volt could do. He didn’t want to go back to sleep, nor did he want to jump into a mission to get away from Rhino, but Rhino was not one to give up if he wanted to talk about something. Considering recent news, he probably had a lot he wanted to get off his chest.

“I’m busy…” Volt finally answered.

“No you’re not! You’re idling in your ship!”

“I’m waiting for things to finish building and working on mods,” Volt lied. He didn’t really want to talk. He’d actually only gotten back from a rather… harrowing mission about an hour ago. Part of him hadn’t quite gotten over it.

“Whatever. You seen that stuff the Tenno Council showed us? The new location they’ve found? We can’t go there yet, we need to upgrade everyone’s ships first, but it was all HUGE! A proper stomping ground!”

Volt shrugged. “Yeah, I saw it. Looked cool.”

“Cool? COOL? It looked fucking awesome!”

Rhino continued to spam the chat with his excitement. Eventually, Volt found an opening to change the subject.

“So, what did you think of… Harrow?”

Rhino paused, but only for a moment. “That weird spooky Tenno stuck in his Warframe who was creeping everyone out? Eh, don’t really care. I think he was just a loony. Being awake for so long does that to you.”

“That seems…”

“I don’t really care to be honest. He says he got left behind, but I would have brought him with us. Pretty sure I didn’t leave anyone behind back in those early days. Either way, he’s dead now. He’s asleep. That’ll do. I just want to get to this Eidolon place, already.”

Volt sighed, just as an alert from the Lotus popped up. The perfect excuse to leave. But Rhino had already taken the excuse and was now on his way to Eris for some Nitain Extract.

Alone once more, Volt was no longer sure what to do with himself. Rhino was adamant that he hadn’t left anyone behind, but Volt couldn’t remember back then. Few Tenno could. What if they HAD left Rell behind? Rell was a kid just like them after all, and he’d spent goodness knows how long suffering.

Really, Volt felt awful, but it was only now, on his own, that he could admit it. They did leave him. Unwillingly perhaps. Out of all the Tenno out there, potentially millions of them, they left one person behind.

And then they killed him. They worked together and put Rell to sleep, permanently. Both Lotus and the Red Veil believed it was for the best.

But was it?

That was what bothered Volt the most. What if there had been some other way? Even now, despite the fall of the Orokin, despite everything that was going on, surely there could have been some way to help Rell, just a little?

Maybe not.

The Donda twisted gently, spinning away happily to itself. This was all that remained of the abandoned Tenno. The kid who suffered for millennia, so the rest of the Tenno could dream peacefully. The least Volt could do was to make sure he looked after the Donda.

“At least you’ll have a nice view from here, Rell…” Volt sighed as he set course to Eris. “I’m sorry we left you behind.”